Sustained economic growth in Central and Eastern European Countries depends among others on a radical technological restructuring. The instrument of technology audit supports policy makers in designing appropriate strategies for shaping science and technology policies in this process. The book develops in its conceptual part a methodology for the analysis of strengths and weaknesses of R&D systems and future areas of competitiveness which can be transferred also to other countries in periods of intense technological development. These guidelines are based on international best practice of evaluation research and practical experiences in the transition context. The empirical part of the book presents the findings of a technology audit in the field of biotechnology in Hungary. Based on an international comparison of success factors in biotechnology, promising areas for Hunagrian science and industry are identified. The book provides guidelines for researchers and policy makers and offers an extensive survey of the current state of biotechnology in Hungary.

This book offers a guideline for "Technology Audit" exercises for the transforming innovation systems of Central and Eastern European Countries (CEECs). Further­ more, the book presents the results of an exemplary application of this guideline in the field of biotechnology in Hungary. The authors - a group of innovation re­ searchers of the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research (lSI), Germany, and of the Innovation Research Centre (IKU), Hungary - provide a sound concept for the identification of technological strengths and weaknesses of the CEECs' industrially oriented research systems as a basis for the design of advanced innovation policies. After the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) had proposed a "Technology Audit" of Hungary in 1993, a pilot audit was carried out under their auspices. In parallel, the German Federal Ministry of Education, Sci­ ence, Research and Technology (BMFT) put forward the idea of developing the audit concept further in order to make it applicable also in other Central and Eastern European Countries. They asked lSI to utilise the running OECD audits as a learn­ ing source and to work out a comprehensive audit approach.

Summary.- I. Technology Audit Guidelines for Central and Eastern European Countries.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Situation in Central and Eastern European Countries.- 3. Principles of Technology Audit.- 4. Pilot Technology Audits in Hungary.- 5. Guideline for Technology Audit in CEECs.- II. Biotechnology Audit of Hungary.- 1. Introduction.- 2. International Development of Biotechnology.- 3. State and Development of Hungarian Biotechnology.- 4. Comparison of International and Hungarian Development of Biotechnology.- 5. Conclusions.- 6. References.- Annex.- Annex I: Methodological Notes.- Annex II: Revised Hungarian Intellectual Property Rights.- Annex III: List of Investigated Institutes and Firms.